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Looking for Juliet: Yara Shahidi, Indya Moore and More Star in the 2020 Pirelli Calendar
Of Shakespeare’s many works, perhaps none is more famous than Romeo & Juliet, and the bard’s teenaged heroine is the muse for the 2020 edition of the always-anticipated Pirelli calendar, this year photographed by the legendary Paolo Roversi, and themed “Looking for Juliet.” The question posed: how do modern muses embody the romantic yet tragic…
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Could Your Beauty Routine Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer? A New Study Reveals Permanent Dyes and Straighteners May Pose Dangers
When it comes to black women and hair texture, The Glow Up has always maintained that it’s a personal concern—in fact, we launched on the stance that we’re #TeamNeutral. Unfortunately, a new report published on Wednesday in the International Journal of Cancer indicates that hair texture may also be a health concern, as scientists at…
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'Too Black? Nah…She’s FLAWLESS!!!': Gabrielle Union Reveals a New Launch and a 'Productive' Meeting With NBC
The tangled saga of Gabrielle Union’s departure from America’s Got Talent continues, but the star continues to be bolstered by significant support from both fans and fellow industry insiders. On Tuesday, Tamron Hall added her voice to the chorus calling out NBC’s allegedly discriminatory behavior and “toxic” work environment, weighing in on the issue during…
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Feeling Herself: Taraji Talks Menopause, Mental Health, and Mature Relationships—and We Feel Seen
“Celebs—they’re just like us!” is a phrase we collectively toss around in jest, but every so often a celebrity reminds us exactly how human they are, and awe is replaced by empathy. Lately, actress and activist Taraji P. Henson has been that celeb, pulling back the curtain on her Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe and NAACP Image…
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Black Beauty Won the Night at the 2019 British Fashion Awards
It was a great night to be black and beautiful at the 2019 British Fashion Awards, where black women took center stage and made unprecedented wins during the 31st annual ceremony held Monday night at London’s Royal Albert Hall. No, there wasn’t another surprise appearance by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex this year, but the host…
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'Too Black,' Too 'Difficult,' Too Honest: Why Gabrielle Union's Firing Feels Painfully Familiar to Black Women
Growing up, I was constantly told to “shhh!” Whether I was right or wrong, happy or in distress, I was repeatedly reminded to lower my voice and take up less space—even while simultaneously being assured I could be anything I wanted to be and that my gifts were worth sharing with the world. Granted, I…
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In The Water: Rhiannon Giddens Pays Musical Tribute to the Painful Legacy of Wilmington, N.C.
Rhiannon Giddens is nothing if not prolific; the Grammy award-winner and Macarthur Genius Award recipient may have initially made her mark as co-founder and lead vocalist of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, but her musical acumen spans genres. From the roots music of her banjo-based all-female super-quartet Our Native Daughters (earning her one of two Grammy…
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From Carmen to Nefertiti, J'Nai Bridges Is the Next Big Voice in Opera
Amid the surrealist sets, majestic costumes, soaring voices and intricate harmonies of the Met Opera’s current revival of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten, based on the 17-year reign of the revolutionary 18th Dynasty Egyptian king, one of the most striking elements is that of his famed queen, Nefertiti. Performed by mezzo-soprano sensation J’Nai Bridges (pronounced “Jah-Nay”), Nefertiti…
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Akhnaten: A Revolutionary King Gets an Equally Innovative Opera
It’s strangely fitting that one of history’s earliest renegades has been immortalized with an opera that also defies convention—and indeed, for those unfamiliar with the music of Philip Glass, the operative word some may use to describe his opera Akhnaten might be “strange.” For the genre’s purists, the Metropolitan Opera’s production of his now 35-year-old…
